Submitted by WeakAndWeary t3_10ledsi in RhodeIsland
Coincel_pro t1_j5zuckq wrote
Reply to comment by degggendorf in What if we all just decided not to pay our February electricity bills? by WeakAndWeary
Are you even reading my posts? The one at the top of this chain where I am arguing for collective action?
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Instead you focus on the "power cut off" content, who gives a shit if its cut off now mid winter (thankfully not an option) or when its warmer. That's irrelevant to whether or not RIE would be impacted by enough people deciding at once not to pay.
degggendorf t1_j5zvmgj wrote
> who gives a shit if its cut off now mid winter (thankfully not an option) or when its warmer. That's irrelevant to whether or not RIE would be impacted by enough people deciding at once not to pay.
Those two are connected, don't you see it? The number of people who would be willing to skip a bill and immediately have their power shut off and account sent to collections is waaaaaaay smaller than the people who would be willing to skip a bill with zero repercussions for at least two months.
> Are you even reading my posts? The one at the top of this chain where I am arguing for collective action?
Yes, and I just read it again. It reads like you're trying to discourage people from even considering it. Here's a quick breakdown:
> Americans as a whole are terminally poisoned against it.
Peer pressure, saying no one does it so you shouldn't either.
> you get downvoted and ridiculed for even suggesting that public protest / collective action even be attempted.
A warning to not even talk about it
> they just get cut off without any progress made at all.
False info to further discourage it.
Look, I am sure you're not some undercover pro-corporate operative. BUT, if someone was one, I'd expect them to say very similar things. Start with a toothless word of support to appear to be on "the right" side, then dive into several reasons why no one should consider collective action.
Coincel_pro t1_j60ck54 wrote
This is literally the opposite of the argument I have made, not sure how you are so mixed up on this. Please try reading again without assuming I am speaking against collective action in any way (because holy shit am I not). As someone who donates an unhealthy amount of money to strike funds I am trying not to laugh ere.
I said people are poisoned against it because look at OP getting like -14 votes on just asking if collective action would be possible / a solution. As someone who has participated in strikes and protests numerous times the amount of vile rhetoric around them is eye opening, especially considering how often they are used elsewhere to good effect.
You yourself laid out your opinion of a realistic outcome which included "not many would participate" and "RIE would see non-debilitating loss of revenue".
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I would love for it to happen, collective action is utilized far far too little in the USA because people are generally poisoned against it / too passive in regard to the status quo. I lay out that its not likely but just as you said for yourself, that does not mean either of us dont want it to occur.
degggendorf t1_j60dr71 wrote
> You yourself laid out your opinion of a realistic outcome which included "not many would participate" and "RIE would see non-debilitating loss of revenue".
Right, and you'll notice that I didn't include misinformation about shut offs like you did, and I gave my opinion from the factual starting point I laid out here a couple comments ago..."People could do what OP is suggesting and just not pay their bills until March 31 with zero repercussions. That would crush RIE's cashflow for the next two months, and get their attention. What would happen after that? Idk, that's where the discussion should happen."
It seems even more confusing that you'd spread anti-action misinformation if you so heartily support the action. Surely it would be in your interest to promote awareness of the limitations to RIE's power, to encourage more people to participate in some collective action rather than just reinforcing the reasons why everyone should be scared to.
Coincel_pro t1_j617yb9 wrote
Ok you’re clearly just reading what you want to
degggendorf t1_j61iwfx wrote
Except none of it is really what I want to see. I'd rather see fact-based support for collective action rather than dejected hyperbole.
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